Carosiello’s stepfather dies before obstruction trial

July 1, 2014

LISBON - The recent death of Richard Lewis, who was charged with obstructing justice, canceled his jury trial in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court on Monday.

According to an obituary which ran in the Steubenville Herald-Star, Lewis died last Wednesday at Valley Hospice near Steubenville.

Lewis, 61, Township Line Road, Wellsville, was charged with two counts of obstructing official business for allegedly helping his stepson, Nicholas Carosiello, by lying to investigators in Aug. 12 and 15, 2011 following the death of Holly Carosiello.

Nicholas Carosiello is facing several charges, including aggravated murder, in the death of his estranged wife around the same date.

Court documents allege Lewis' story continued to change. At times during the investigation he claimed an unknown person was inside the home; he heard two or three shots, but claimed not to know who fired the weapon; he claimed he did not know who was shot and he claimed he was the only person inside the home at the time of the shooting. He also allegedly moved guns around inside the home before investigators arrived.

Assistant County Prosecutor John Gamble said he was waiting for defense attorney Joseph Ludovici, who had been representing Lewis in the matter, to send him a copy of the obituary before any action would be taken regarding closing the case against Lewis.

The jury trial had been scheduled to begin on Monday morning in the courtroom of Judge Scott Washam. Lewis had last appeared for a status conference and motion hearing on June 12.